Optical connector system

ABSTRACT

An optical connector system comprises at least one optical connector ( 11 ) provided through a panel ( 12 ) such that it is inclined with respect to the vertical direction and a shield cover ( 20  and  31 ) provided outside the optical connector. The optical connector system makes the shield easy to make, increases the assembling density, and simplifies the fixing and bending works.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an optical connector system,especially to a shield structure of an optical connector system providedin a panel, being inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] An optical connector has been used in the optical communicationsystem for connecting optical cables or an optical cable and otheroptical device for plugging and unplugging. The optical connector isprovided on an outer panel of an exchanger, being inclined with respectto the vertical direction so that a laser beam of high output does notenter operator's eyes during the connection work of the opticalconnector.

[0005] Such an optical connector is described in Japanese Kokai No.2001-147269. In FIG. 7, an outer panel 2 of equipment 1 is bent and aplurality of, or four in the drawing, adapters 3 of the opticalconnectors are fixed to the outer panel 2, being inclined downwardly.

[0006] However, in the conventional optical connector, parts of theouter panel 2, to which the adapters 3 are fixed, are bent, and,therefore, it is difficult to provide the shield of the opticalconnector. Also, since the adapters 3 are fixed to the bent parts of theouter panel 2, a space is required between the adapters 3 for fixing theadapters 3, making it difficult to increase the assembling density. Inaddition, the adapters 3 are fixed to the outer panel 2 individually andthe outer panel is required to be bent, the assembling work needs longtime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providean optical connector system, which makes the shielding easy, increasesthe assembling density, and simplifies the fixing and bending works.

[0008] According to the present invention, an optical connector systemcomprises at least one optical connector provided through a panel andinclined with respect to the direction and a shield cover providedoutside the optical connector.

[0009] It is preferable that the optical connector is fixed to the panelby the shield cover.

[0010] A plurality of the optical connectors are connected with eachother in a shape of step and the shield cover integrally shields theconnected optical connectors.

[0011] The shield cover is provided such that it goes through the panelwith the optical connector.

[0012] The shield cover has a stepped rectangular parallelepiped shapeand is provided on optical connector an outside wall surface of theoptical connector.

[0013] The shield cover is provided on optical connector an outside wallsurface of one side of the optical connector, which projects from thepanel.

[0014] The shield cover is further provided on an end surface of theoptical connector.

[0015] According to the present invention, since the adapters fixed tothe panel are shielded by the shield cover, excellent shield effect isachieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shield structure foran optical connector according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shield structure.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a shield structure foran optical connector according to a modification to the embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0019]FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of a shield structurefor an optical connector according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shield structure.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a shield structure for anoptical connector according to the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Embodiments of the invention will now be described referring tothe accompanying drawings.

[0023] In FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical connector 11 according to anembodiment of the invention comprises an adapter 13 provided through apanel 12 such that the adapter 13 is inclined in the vertical direction,and a plug 14 detachably attached to the adapter 13.

[0024] The adapter 13 is of the tandem type and comprises a pair ofadapter bodies 15 and 15′ made of a plastic and having the same shape,and two cylindrical adjusting sleeves 16. Engaging projections 41 and41′ are provided on sides of the adapter bodies 15 and 15′,respectively. A pair of first cantilever engaging terminals 17 or 17′having engaging holes 17A or 17′A at the top and base portions thereofand second cantilever engaging terminals 18 or 18′ having engagingprojections 18 or 18′A at the top and base portions thereof are providedon the opposite sides of the adapter bodies 15 or 15′, respectively. Thefirst and second adapter bodies 15 and 15′ are joined by the engagementbetween the engaging holes 17A or 17′A and the engaging projections 18Aor 18′A. The adjusting sleeves 16 are movably held in sleeveaccommodating slots 28 provided in the adapter 15 and 15′. Plug engagingcavities 19 are provided in two tiers at the end of each of the adapterbodies 15 and 15′.

[0025] A shield cover 20 made of a metal is provided outside the adapter13. The shield cover 20 has a shape of stepped rectangularparallelepiped and is provided on an outside wall surface of the twoconnected adapters 13 to shield them integrally. Panel fixing members 21are provided on opposite sides of the shield cover 20 such that thepanel fixing members 21 are inclined at a predetermined angle, forexample 45°, with respect to the insertion direction of the plug 14.Each panel fixing member 21 comprises a panel receiving piece 22 bentoutwardly at substantially right angles and a cantilever spring 23 bentslightly outwardly. Accordingly, the adapter 13 and the shield cover 20are attached to the panel 12 in the inclined condition when the panel 12is held between the panel receiving piece 22 and the cantilever spring23. Engaging holes 42 and 42′ are provided in opposite sides of theshield cover 20 at positions corresponding to the engaging projections41 and 41′ so that the adapter bodies 15 and 15′ are held in the shieldcover 20 by the engagement between the engaging holes 42 and projection41.

[0026] In FIG. 2, two shield covers 20 are connected in tires andattached to the panel 12. Each shield cover 20 accommodates two tandemadapters 13 and each adapter 13 is engaged with the plug 14. The plug 14is a twin core plug and comprises two ferules 25 to accommodate an endof a core wire (not shown) of an optical cable 24 and two housings 26 tomovably accommodate the ferules 25.

[0027] When the plugs 14 are upwardly inserted into the plug engagingcavities 19 outside the panel 12 and the plugs 14′ are downwardlyinserted into the plug engaging cavities 19′ inside the panel 12, eachof the ferules 25 of the plugs 14 and 14′ is aligned and held in theadjusting sleeves 16, and abuts against each other. Thus, the plugs 14and 14′ are connected to each other through the adapter 13. Since theadapter 13 is installed to the panel 12 on the slant, no that lightenters operator's eyes during the connection work of the plugs 14 and14′, thus protecting the operator's eyes. Since a plurality of theadapters 13 are integrally connected with each other, the assemblingdensity is increased, and since the panel 12 does not require thecomplicated process, such as bending work, the manufacturing of thepanel 12 is easy.

[0028] As described above, the adapter 13 is attached to the panel 12 bythe panel receiving piece 22 and the cantilever spring 23 of the shieldcover 20. However, other method may be used. For example, the shieldcover 20 may be attached to the panel 14 by a screw, a fixing memberother than the shield cover 20 may be employed, or the adapter 13 itselfmay have a fixing member, such as a screw, to be directly installed tothe panel 12.

[0029] Also, in the above embodiment, the shield cover 20 integrallycoves the two adapters 13, however, the shield cover 20 is made to covereach individual adapter 13 as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, it ispreferable that a connecting member 43 and a connecting recess (notshown) engageable with the connecting member 43 are provided on an upperand lower surfaces of the shield cover 20. Three or more of the adapters13 may be integrally shielded by the shield cover 20. The adapter 13 maynot be of the tandem type.

[0030] The shield cover 20 may be provided on end surfaces 27 of theadapter 13 as well as the peripheral wall surface of the adapter 13. TheShape of the shield cover 20 is not limited to the stepped rectangularparallelepiped, but any shape may be employed, which permits the adapter13 to be installed to the panel 12 at an inclined position with respectto the vertical direction.

[0031] In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, the same referencenumbers are used for the same elements as those of the first embodimentin FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0032] A shield cover 31 is made of a metal and comprises a wedge-shapedadapter receiving cavity 32 for accommodating the adapter 31 and a panelfixing member 33 provided on the lower end of the adapter receivingcavity 32. The adapter receiving cavity 32 comprises triangular sidesurfaces 34, a rectangular upper surface 35, and an end surface 36corresponding to side surfaces, an upper surface, and an end surface ofthe adapter 13, respectively. The end surface 36 has a pair of openings37 corresponding to the plug engaging cavities 19. The side surfaces 34have engaging projections 44 to engage with engaging holes 41 so thatthe adapter 13 is held by the shield cover 31. The panel fixing member33 comprises a predetermined number, or two in the drawings, ofprojections 38 each having a round hole 39. Accordingly, the adapter 13and the shield cover 31 are attached to the panel 12, being inclinedwith respect to the vertical direction by applying screws 40 into thepanel 12 through the round holes 39.

[0033] In FIG. 5, four shield covers 31 are connected to each other. InFIG. 6, the connected shield covers 31 are fixed to the panel 12, andthe tandem adapter 13 is inserted into each shield cover 31. In FIG. 5,since the plug engaging cavity 19 faces to the panel 12 downwardly onthe slant, no light enters operator's eyes, thus protecting theoperator's eyes during the assembly work. Since a plurality of theadapters 13 are integrally connected with each other, the assemblingdensity is increased, and since the panel 12 does not require thecomplicated process, such as bending work, the manufacturing of thepanel 12 is made simple.

[0034] As described above, the adapter 13 is attached to the panel 12 bytightening the screws through the round holes 39. However, other methodmay be used. For example, the shield cover 20 may be attached to thepanel 14 by a screw, a fixing member other than the shield cover 20 maybe employed, or the adapter 13 itself may have a fixing member, such asa screw, to be directly installed to the panel 12.

[0035] The shield cover 31 may shield only the peripheral wall surfaceof the adapter 13 without having the end surface 36. The Shape of theshield cover 20 is not limited to the wedge-shape but any shape may beemployed, which permits the adapter 13 to be installed to the panel 12at an inclined position with respect to the vertical direction. Aplurality of the shield covers 31 may be integrally made instead ofbeing connected.

[0036] Instead of shielding the adapter 13, shielding may be providedfor a connector that comprises the plug 14′ provided inside the panel 12and fixed to the adapter 13 and a connector section provided outside thepanel 12, into or from which the plug 14 is inserted or removed.

[0037] According to the present invention, since the adapter fixed tothe panel is shielded by the shield cover, excellent shield effect isachieved. Since the adapter is inclined with respect to the panel, lightdoes not enter operator's eyes upon insertion and removal of the plug,thus protecting the operator's eyes. Since the connected adapters areinstalled to the panel, the assembling work is easy and the assemblingdensity is increased. In addition, since the adapter does not require acomplicated process, such as bending work, to be fixed to the panel, theprocess for the panel is simplified.

1. An optical connector system, comprising: at least one opticalconnector provided through a panel and inclined with respect to avertical direction; and a shield cover provided outside said opticalconnector.
 2. The optical connector system according to claim 1, whereinsaid optical connector is fixed to said panel by said shield cover. 3.The optical connector system according to claim 1, wherein a pluralityof said optical connectors are connected with each other in a shape ofstep and said shield cover integrally shields said connected opticalconnectors.
 4. The optical connector system according to claim 2,wherein said plurality of optical connectors are connected with eachother in a shape of step and said shield cover integrally shields saidconnected optical connectors.
 5. The optical connector system accordingto one of claims 1-4, wherein said shield cover is provided such that itgoes through said panel with said optical connector.
 6. The opticalconnector system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shield coverhas a shape of stepped rectangular parallelepiped and is provided on atleast an outside wall surface of said optical connector.
 7. The opticalconnector system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shield cover isprovided on at least an outside wall surface of one side of said opticalconnector, said one side projecting from said panel.
 8. The opticalconnector system according to claim 6, wherein said shield cover isfurther provided on an end surface of said optical connector.
 9. Theoptical connector according to claim 7, wherein said shield cover isfurther provided on an end surface of said optical connector.